Across the United States books are being banned. As a former elementary school librarian, I can tell you when students hear books are being banned students want to read them even more. Books currently being targeted include topics such as sexuality, race, or racism. The main reason for the ban is the topics inside of…
2020 was a hard year for most people. Many people received extra praise for the work they were doing during the pandemic, especially first responders and medical professionals. However, at the beginning teachers were getting some of that love, too. That goodwill quickly dissipated as kids didn’t return to school as quickly as some would…
Native American history is American history. It should be covered throughout the year and not only in November during Native American Heritage Month. However, teachers must take the time to learn about the various tribes or Native nations they want to cover in their classroom. Many activities teachers used to teach about Native Americans were…
My first child was born one year ago today. She was a “pandemic baby” so there are a lot of experiences that she hasn’t had yet. We haven’t been able to take her too many places. She goes to daycare, but we haven’t gone to the zoo or museum yet. She just went to the…
Traditional school conferences involve the parent and teacher discussing the progress of the student. Sometimes the child is not present. Not only should the child be present, it is also possible for the child to lead the conference. These conferences are known as student led conferences (SLCs). They are best suited for secondary students although…
The Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD-3) takes place towards the end of third grade to determine students’ reading proficiency. IDOE has released data about proficiency rates for third graders who took the assessment during the spring or summer of 2021. Only 81.2% of those third graders earned a proficient score on the exam leaving…
Parent/Teacher conferences typically take place about halfway through the first semester of school. It takes time for teachers to get to know their students, and the timing of conferences allows teachers to complete assessments and have a good idea of what their students know and areas where they struggle. Conferences are the time for teachers…
“My grandparents could not read. Their grandparents were slaves. How are you going to come in here with those grades?” My father expected us to have As and Bs. When we did not, he would remind us of our ancestors. He wanted us to be ashamed that we were not doing our best with the…
Parent/Teacher Conferences are a critical component of every school year. This is an opportunity for teachers to share areas of success of their students and areas of growth. This is also an opportunity for parents to ask questions and learn how to support their children at home. The pandemic had an impact on many areas…
On an episode of “In Living Color,” Jim Carrey did a parody of Robert Van Winkle who is more commonly known as Vanilla Ice. In the “rap,” he said, “I’m white and I’m capitalizing on a trend that’s currently rising.” Later, the backup singers asked, “When it’s gonna stop?” Carrey, as Vanilla Ice replied, “Maybe…